So what would you think if your primary school says it requires volunteers to teach swimming?

[daftdame]

Just that really. Our primary school says that swimming lessons may have to be cancelled if they don't get enough volunteers to help. I know they have to teach this, as it is part of the national curriculum, although I know the guidelines do not stipulate much in terms of how many lessons they are supposed to teach. I do not like the emotional blackmail aspect though...what do you think?

then they don't need to volunteer

By the end of Key Stage 2 (age 11), pupils should be taught to swim unaided for a distance of at least 25 metres, using recognised strokes, on their front and back, and demonstrate an understanding of water safety). It is up to primary schools to decide when, and at what point they wish to teach this.
So they would be fulfilling the current national curriculum if they restricted swimming just to ( for example) year 6. Your school are clearly trying to do more than the minimum and are asking for help in doing so.

Because three of my children are at the school, ds1 also sent there (now at high school) and I know lots of parents that he'll and I do get involved in stuff I can is baking etc but as I have always had a baby/toddler at home I haven't been able to do much.

I see the school as a community tbh and for it to thrive and be a place where children do well I think parental involvement is important. I don't just want to drop my child off, I do want to be involved in their education.

Not that you have to be and we can't all help but every little bit helps from baking cakes to things like volunteering to help sort the schools veg garden, or tidy and sort the library books. (Just some of the things parents help with at our school) oh and redecorating the pool changing rooms, all done by parent volunteers and the children drew designs to be stencil led on the walls (under sea theme obviously!). There was lots of fundraising and people volunteered time and donated paintbrushes, paint etc. All sorts of little things and all contributions are equally valued. But it really helps create a community feel iyswim? And the children have a real sense if pride that they were involved in the process.

And yes it should be funded but with limited budgets and constant cut backs and teachers stretched already if they can get parents to help with some things that's a good thing.

Its the same with pre-schools parents are involved in fundraising and helping out. Nobody has to but if you can I think it makes sense to try.

And schools can't win it seems, either they aren't friendly enough etc or they expect too much re volunteering, cakes, dress up days etc. They are trying to do well by our children and I want to support them in that when I can.

But the school will have to provide at some point won't they?

Yes but the elder children don't need help getting changed or extra supervision in the pool. Its only up to yr2/3 that parents help with swimming at our school. After that they don't need as much help.

Fine, just tell the school you would rather swimming was restricted to year 6's alone, that way you probably wouldn't need TAs or parent helpers!

I'd be interested to know how many schools don't teach swimming and whether it's anything that Ofsted would pick up on.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-18075151 suggests not

sorry
suggests not all schools manage!

spanieleyes, you still seem to think it is the parent's responsibility to provide. If parents did do this would the school really be carrying out their duty, just restricting lessons to Yr 6's? If so fine. I don't mind helping anyone but would prefer a carrot approach rather than a big stick!

Yes, the only statutory requirement is the 25 m by the end of KS2, how this is achieved is down to the school. I don't think it is the parents responsibility to help, just that they have to accept the consequences if they don't! Your school are clearly trying to provide more than the bare minimum required but have said this is proving impossible to do so without volunteer help. How parents respond to this is obviously down to them!

I have helped in 2 primary schools with swimming. At the first my son was in nursery and there one or two really nervous kids. One of them initially stuck like glue to me but over the course of the term I managed to encourage him off and by the end he was really loving it. In my experience school swimming has the most return the younger it is done, even though that needs parent helpers in the water. It is pointless, though easier for the school if just done in Y6.
I have often though t that schools should test the kids around Y3 and those that can't do the 25m get offered free lessons.

Is this a private primary school? I have never heard of a state school with its own pool?

My state school children go to the local pool where there are 3 instructors for each hour long lesson (1 instructor per 10 children). The children with 1 to 1 care requirements have their carers in the pool with them.

I teach in a state school with its own pool, there are a number around!

Near me there are campus schools with primary and secondary on the same site and I know they have pools shared by both schools so not unheard of in the state system.

How well would the school be able to perform if there were not enough volunteers? What do you think would happen realistically?

The PE curriculum for swimming is quite fuzzy.
Schools must cover
Gymnastics, Games and Dance and choose 2 from swimming, athletics and outdoor and adventure activities. Swimming must be chosen unless children have completed the requirements which many children who have private lessons will do with only a short input

My children's school is a state primary, the pool was built years ago, mainly after lots of fundraising via parents, local businesses etc. Its not big or fancy, but its fine.

OP - I still don't really understand your concern - what exactly do you mean by "how well would the school be able to perform"? Sorry if I've missed a post.

I don't suppose not teaching swimming would have any impact on the rest of the teaching in the school if that's what you mean, SATs results will be unaffected and they could teach something else during the time they aren't swimming (some other from of PE I suppose).

My sons school is a state school with it's own pool. They have always asked for volunteers to aid in the water (to help the DC's stay afloat mainly) and in the changing room. There is a qualified instructor but I know our school couldn't provide the necessary ratio for the children in the water if it wasn't for parent helpers- the costs would soon mount up to be unsustainable.

We are coastal and I am very thankful that the school teaches swimming for the full duration of primary school.

Our school would certainly struggle with next to no parent helpers, as my DC's class has seen this year.

We've said already. without volunteers, most schools would restrict swimming to the bare bones, they would have no choice!

I think the school should just take the children that can't swim and teach those children - the children that have external lessons and can swim could do something else.

when my dd2 went for swimming lessons there was her and another girls who were both squad swimmers and they both found it pointless. Both girls would have rather done some thing else. That isn't a disrespect to the teacher but if they hadn't gone then the teachers could spend more time and effort with those dc that can't swim

As mrz says the PE curriculum is quite 'fuzzy'. I was under the (false) impression that it was an N C requirement to teach swimming. I do think learning to swim is important but do realise schools are overburdened in many ways. However I think it is unfair to rely quite so heavily on volunteers / put pressure on parents to volunteer by pointing out lessons will have to be cancelled if they don't. Why not have a more neutral type of approach (eg survey of who would like to volunteer) before lessons are promised?

A lo tof parents work during the day so unless swimming was out of school hours then these parents wouldn't be able to volunteer.